The United Way Campaign

You’ve seen the posts on Facebook. You probably got an email announcement in your inbox. There have been articles in the paper. Soon, the United Way will be visiting your place of employment.

The United Way Campaign has begun.

But what exactly does this mean? Why does this event seem to crop up at the same time every year? Is there a way to avoid it?

The answers to your burning questions are included below.

What is the United Way Campaign?

To answer this question, it’s important to understand exactly what the United Way does. According to its website:

“United Way brings people together to build strong, equitable communities where everyone can thrive. As one of the world's largest privately funded charities, we serve 95% of U.S. communities and 37 countries and territories -- making life better for 48 million people every year. Through United Way, communities tackle tough challenges and work with private, public, and nonprofit partners to boost education, economic mobility, and health resources.”

To achieve those goals, they need funding.

And they get most of those funds through donations.

The mission of the Columbus Area United Way (CAUW) is to make sure community members here and in the surrounding area have what they need to be successful in life. Just like the larger United Way, to achieve those goals, they need funds—and most of the money comes from donations.

That brings us to the Campaign. After determining the needs of Community Partners, the CAUW sets out to raise the funds that ensures services are provided to those who need it.

A Variety of Ways to Get Involved

If supporting your local community is something that interests you, then donating to the CAUW might be a good idea. They partner with 15 different agencies in Platte County, as well as have direct programs that impact individuals and families.

When it comes to making a donation, there are many different ways to get involved. If you’re the type who likes to take risks and wants to potentially win some prizes, then participating in the Duck Race might be your cup of tea.

You also have the option of making a one-time donation or making multiple donations throughout the year. The CAUW even makes it easy to make year-round donations by taking pledges directly out of your paycheck.

You also get to decide where your money goes.

If you want to place your donation in the general fund, it will get divided up and distributed to the various partner agencies and programs. Should you decide you want your donation to go to a specific cause, you can designate where your money goes.

Can You Avoid the United Way Campaign?

We really hope you don’t.

We get it. It can feel cringy and uncomfortable when the United Way comes around and asks for money. You don’t want to let anyone down, but you may also feel like you can’t make a huge difference.

Let us reassure you: it doesn’t take much to make a difference.

When it comes to the Duck Race, one duck costs $10, and you have the chance to win some amazing prizes.

When it comes to donations, you can give as little or as much as you can afford. Even if you can only give $1.00 a month, you’re still doing something that impacts a member of the community. Even a one-time donation of $20 makes a difference.

Get Involved with the United Way

The United Way Campaign is underway, and we really hope you’ll find a way to get involved. As a United Way Partner Agency, the PVLA benefits from the generous donors who live in Columbus and the surrounding area—but we’re not the only ones. There are many, many organizations who work with the CAUW to make our corner of Nebraska such an amazing place to live.

Get involved today!

Why Being a United Way Partner Agency Is a Big Deal

If you’ve read any of the history of the Platte Valley Literacy Association, you’ve noticed that it says we’ve been a United Way Partner Agency for decades (more than 30 years). While this sounds good, what exactly does it mean? Why is being a United Way Partner Agency such a big deal?

This blog will do its best to give you some answers.

What Is a Partner Agency?

The simple answer to this question is that United Way Partner Agencies provide services to individuals within a community to address specific needs that the United Way has determined are important to quality of life. They have named these their Three Pillars. Those pillars include:

• Health
• Education
• Financial Stability

These categories are pretty broad and general, and then it’s up to the local United Way to develop criteria under each heading that best serves the people living in the area. The local United Way then works with “Partner Agencies” to ensure that the needs of individuals within the community are being met.

As a Partner Agency, the PVLA is tasked with providing a service that makes positive, meaningful change within the community. The United Way wants people to live their best lives, but they can’t achieve that goal on their own. They need to work with others who share their vision of a strong community, and that’s why they create partnerships with other agencies.

What Benefits Do Partner Agencies Get?

Helping the United Way comes with many benefits, including access to funding opportunities, resources for promotion and outreach, and opportunities for learning.

The United Way supports its Partner Agencies to ensure they are providing the best services possible. After all, if the Partner Agency is successful, the United Way is successful, and the community gets the services it needs to thrive and survive. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Probably the biggest benefit that comes with being a United Way Partner Agency is the sense of satisfaction that comes with knowing we’re making a difference. It feels really good to know that we are helping those in need and making Columbus an incredible place to live.

A Prosperous Relationship

There’s a reason why the PVLA has been a United Way Partner Agency for as long as it has; it gives us the opportunity to make a huge difference in the Columbus community. We also have access to and make connections with other nonprofits in the area, and it feels good to be part of a productive and prosperous movement.

The United Way has been doing good things in communities around the world for more than 135 years. They are catalysts of social change and exist to promote the common good.

Being a United Way Partner Agency is a big deal because it can make a huge impact on countless lives. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that?